The United Nations Security Council on Friday approved an expanded role for its mission in Iraq that includes a greater focus on assisting the Baghdad government in advancing national reconciliation, returning refugees and rebuilding, according to dpa. The 15-nation council said its representative in Iraq will "advise, support and assist" Baghdad in a series of tasks, the most important of which is to advance "inclusive, political dialogue and national reconciliation" and develop a process for elections and referenda. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said in an address that the UN remains committed to helping the Iraqis and its enhanced mandate will allow it to contribute, where possible, to crucial areas in national politics and humanitarian assistance. "The UN looks forward to working in close partnership with the leaders and people of Iraq to explore how we can further our assistance under the terms of this resolution," Ban said. US Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad assured the Iraqis that US forces "will do their part to ensure that security and resources needed are there so that the UN expertise can be deployed to help address the challenges in Iraq." Khalilzad said the United States remains committed to assisting the people of Iraq and their government. The White House released a statement welcoming the resolution and said the United States will work closely with the United Nations. "This vote sends an important signal of the United Nations' commitment to support stability and security in Iraq," Bush's deputy spokeswoman, Dana Perino, said. Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari asked the UN to expand the mission's tasks in a letter to the council. "Iraq's interests in the coming period require expanding and activating the UN mission in Iraq's role on both the humanitarian and political tracks, domestically and regionally," Zebari said. The resolution was adopted unanimously by the council and outlines the mission's tasks in the areas of politics, humanitarian assistance, human rights and the strengthening of the rule of law. The mission will assist in promoting regional dialogue, including on issues of border security, energy and refugees, and will undertake a comprehensive census in Iraq. The mission is to support and coordinate with the Iraqi government to facilitate the safe return of refugees and displaced people and to implement the International Compact with Iraq, which is an internationally funded programme to rebuild the country, its economy and environment. The mission will also work to uphold human rights and assist Iraq in strengthening its rule of law. The UN mission in Iraq currently has about 65 international staff, and that number will be increased to 95 to handle the increased workload. The expansion of the UN role reminded the organization of the fatalities it suffered when 22 UN staffers were killed by a truck bomb that hit their Baghdad headquarters on August 17, 2003. Among the dead was the mission head, Sergio Vieira de Mello of Brazil. Ban told the council that the UN will mark the fourth anniversary of the attack. "As we remember our colleagues who died in Baghdad, I also take this opportunity to pay tribute to the brave men and women who continue to serve the UN in Iraq," Ban said. "As we move forward, their safety and security will remain a paramount concern."
